The English Department at WWCHS, which consists of Charley Jones, Michelle Mickens, Natalie Schneider, and Marsha Willis, is working on several initiatives to improve student achievement. We would like to continue our successful pass rates on the English portion of the Georgia High School Graduation Test (GHSGT), the Writing Test, and on End of Course Tests. To insure our students' continued success, we offer workshops after school to prepare students for the GHSGT and the Writing Test. Mr. Jones also conducts a SAT workshop Tuesday through Thursday afternoons.

We have also been working on several initiatives to further improve student achievement such as: using extensive support and scaffolding when teaching writing (especially for ninth and tenth graders), using young adult literature to reach students, using classroom discussions as a way to assess student learning and to give students a sense of community, an opportunity to share reactions to the literature, and to receive credit for sharing relevant comments and questions, and teaching vocabulary that enables students to decipher words (Greek and Latin roots, prefixes,and suffixes).

The English department at WWCHS is also exploring ways to improve instruction through differentiation and the use of technology.

We also have several exciting upcoming events we would like parents and students to be aware of:

If your student is currently taking Ninth Grade Literature and Composition, his or her portfolio is due December 6, 2007. Portfolios for students in Tenth Grade Literature and Composition are due November 30, 2007. Students in American Literature and Composition (11th) will turn their portfolios in December 7, 2007.

A portfolio is a collection of your student's best work over the course of the semester. Collectively, it demonstrates a student's ability to master each of the standards of a given course. Please encourage your student to do his or her best on this task and to take advantage of the opportunity each English teacher gives him or her to revise. Through revision, your student improves his or her writing and ability to communicate effectively. This also improves his or her performance in the course.

This is an especially exciting and crucial time for Seniors as their Senior Projects will be presented Monday, December 3, 2007, and Tuesday, December 4, 2007, from 4-7 p.m. Students taking British Literature (12th Grade English) have been working toward the completion of their Senior Projects throughout the semester. The Senior Project at W-WCHS serves as a culmination of students' educations and represents an opportunity for students to demonstrate that they have obtained necessary skills they will be expected to demonstrate as college students and/or employees.

As part of their grade, students must present their product to a panel of judges. If you are interested in judging Senior Project Presentations and seeing the wonderful things our students are accomplishing, please contact Mr. Jones at the high school at 706-678-2426.

Each member of the English department at W-WCHS is committed to serving your student and ensuring that he or she receives a quality education. Please help us continue to do so by contacting us with any questions or concerns you may have at 706-678-2426.